Page 68 of Capone
And the only person to blame was Nico Rossi.
Chapter Twenty-Three
CAPONE
Iwas still shell-shocked by the events that took place last night. We were only at Giovanna’s parents' for an hour when pandemonium had broken out. Coming face-to-face with my father was not on the to-do list. I knew Giovanna’s father would be a challenge all by himself, but adding my father to the mix was too much for anyone.
I expected Nico to try to dump salt on Giovanna’s wounds. She had always been very honest with me about how he treated her. Even with her warnings, I could barely hold back. The only thing that saved that man was Gabi. If she wasn’t in the room, I would have beat his ass in his own home.
The smugness from Nico and my father made my blood boil. What made them think their way of life was the only way? As if ducking and dodging bullets were something to be proud of.
I’d much rather live a life of peace. The club wasn’t squeaky clean, but we weren’t always at war with someone. Having enemies in life was natural. Unnecessarily putting yourself on the battle grounds was not.
Nico had done a good job of hiding his horrendous actions toward Gabi and Giovanna up until this point. I knew his pride probably took a hit when Giovanna never came runningback like he predicted. Despite everything, Giovanna remained happy.
This morning, we found out after we left that there was an even bigger blowout. Apparently, Alessia and Emelia were tired of remaining quiet and spilled the beans on their father’s controlling and cruel behavior. Some of those things were news to Giovanna as well. They had only told her bits and pieces of the things they had endured. Needless to say, Gia packed her and Niccolò’s bags and left.
My mother wasn’t too happy either. She called, apologizing on behalf of my father. She was furious with how he sat there and didn’t say a word against Nico for antagonizing me. I didn’t need my mother feeling sorry for something she couldn’t control.
Just like Nico, my father wanted to believe I couldn’t survive without him or his way of life. But over the years, I’d shown him. I was my own man. I made my own way, and I wouldn’t bend for anything or anyone.
We had a flight back home in seven hours, and I still needed to rectify some things from last night. Giovanna and Gabi were currently at Alessia and Emelia’s apartment with their mother. They were having a much-needed heart-to-heart. Gia told Giovanna she wasn’t letting her hop on that plane until she knew every last one of Nico’s transgressions. I was sure that once she learned everything, that would put the final nail in his coffin.
While they were doing that, I was paying Nico a special visit. He might have gotten off easy for his comment toward Gabi last night, but today?
Today, I would make myself crystal clear.
Gabi and Giovanna were off-limits toeveryone.
When I pulled up to the house, I wasted no time killing the engine and making a beeline for the front door. After a few minutes of banging on the door, Nico snatched it open. Helooked like shit. His eyes were red-rimmed, his clothes and hair a mess, and he reeked of alcohol.
His eyes turned to slits as he curled his lips. “What the fuck are you doi?—”
His words were cut off as I slammed my fist in his mouth. He dropped down to the ground, holding his bleeding lip. I wasn’t done though. I needed him to really understand what I was about to say because any more shenanigans from him would earn him more than just my fist.
Like a predator, I stepped inside the house and closed the door. Nico’s eyes widened when he watched me slip on the brass knuckles. His mouth was moving, but I heard nothing but what he called Baby Girl last night.
Mezzosangue.
The word had been circulating in my mind since last night. It was beyond low. Sure, there were some Italians who didn’t believe in dating outside their race, but to degrade and disrespect others whose beliefs didn’t align with yours was where I drew the line. Not only did he call Gabi a half-breed, but he did it in her presence.
There wasn’t a chance in hell I was going back home without making him eat his words.
Not wasting any more time, I gripped the collar of his shirt and started slamming my fist into his face, one right after another. I watched in satisfaction as his lip split more, and his nose bled like a river.
The cocking of a gun paused my attack. I looked up and saw three men in black suits aiming their weapons at me.
Nico shook his head furiously. “Don’t!” he shouted. His voice was laced with panic. “He’s a Ferrari.”
The guards quickly dropped their weapons, but their faces still held a scowl. I scoffed, not giving a damn about them beingangry or the fact that my last name struck fear. My father hadn’t protected me in a long time, and I didn’t need him to.
I was a beast in my own right. Years of grooming from my father made me a monster when I needed to be.
Turning my attention back to Nico, I leaned down, staring him in the eye. “The next time you call my sweet girl anything but her name, you’re dead. The next time you bother her or Giovanna inanyway, you’re dead. You think my father can be ruthless? Try me. I’ll show you something my old man could never.”
Nico gulped vigorously, nodding his head. My father liked to surround himself with men like Nico. You never had to worry about men like Nico betraying you. They were pussies. Too scared to go up against the big dogs. He was like a mouse while my father was a lion.
Once I was satisfied that my message had been made clear, I placed my brass knuckles in my pocket and left. I was ready to get my girls and go home. I still had a few more tricks up my sleeve.
